Very small embryonic-like stem cells are present in adult murine organs: ImageStream-based morphological analysis and distribution studies.
Recently, we purified a population of CXCR4+/Oct-4+/SSEA-1+/Sca-1+/Lin(-)/CD45(-) very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) from adult murine bone marrow (BM). After using flow cytometry, ImageStream analysis, confocal microscopy, and real time RT-PCR, we report that similar cells could be also identified and isolated from several organs in adult mice. The highest total numbers of Oct-4+ VSELs were found in the brain, kidneys, muscles, pancreas, and BM. These observations support our hypothesis that a population of very primitive cells expressing germ line/epiblast markers (Oct-4, SSEA-1) is deposited early during embryogenesis in various organs and survives into adulthood. Further studies are needed to determine whether these cells, after being isolated from various adult human organs similarly to their murine BM-derived counterparts, are endowed with pluripotent stem cell properties.
Zuba-Surma
Ewa K
EK
Stem Cell Biology Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. ekzuba01@louisville.edu
Kucia
Magdalena
M
Wu
Wan
W
Klich
Izabela
I
Lillard
James W
JW
Ratajczak
Janina
J
Ratajczak
Mariusz Z
MZ
D000818:Animals; D000067696:Ataxin-1; D000067528:Ataxins; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002469:Cell Separation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
C000593749:ATXN1 protein, human; D000067696:Ataxin-1; D000067528:Ataxins; C000593750:Atxn1 protein, mouse; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494174:Pou5f1 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger